Despite having spent years together, she no longer harbored feelings for him, but some sentiments still lingered. The three people present each had their own thoughts. Susan couldn’t find the red wine sweet. Instead, it tasted exceptionally bitter to her.
“For Aurora’s happiness, I’ll toast you again, hoping that Aurora will find her true love soon,” Susan said as she picked up her glass again, intending to get Aurora drunk.
Aurora had already downed two glasses, and everyone knew her tolerance was low. Hayden intercepted Susan’s hand. “Enough. She’ll get drunk if she drinks more.”
Even now, Hayden’s thoughts were still with Aurora, which only irritated Susan further, yet she maintained a polite smile. “Aurora, you wouldn’t refuse to drink this glass, would you? After all, it’s been years since we last met.”
“I’ll drink this one for her, for she has already found her true love,” a charming male voice intervened, and a handsome hand took the glass from Aurora. Everyone turned to look at him, his well-fitted suit accentuating his perfect build, his starry eyes and arched eyebrows complementing his elegantly thin lips curved into a light smile.
His presence instantly captivated everyone. The man exuded a commanding aura. He pulled Aurora into his arms and gracefully held the wine glass. Seeing his face, Hayden was completely stunned.
“Aurora, he is…” Hayden had thought of everyone in the world, but he didn’t guess that Aurora’s boyfriend would be him.
“My dear nephew, we might not meet often, but surely you haven’t forgotten me, right?” Julian said with a playful smile at the corner of his mouth.
Susan was well aware of the family dynamics and knew that the person Hayden dreaded most was that illegitimate son of the Alvarez family, who had never shown himself and whose name she had only heard but never associated with a face. Was this their first meeting?
Was Julian actually a member of the Alvarez family, the illegitimate son?
Hayden’s expression was quite telling.
“Uncle.”
“Let me introduce him, Mr. Alvarez. He is my current boyfriend.” Aurora leaned half against Julian. Hayden knew her habits well. If she didn’t like someone, she wouldn’t get close to them. Seeing her leaning against Julian, Hayden felt turmoil inside.
And Susan, seeing Aurora’s boyfriend, who was continuously voted the most eligible bachelor in Clothville, felt a mix of awe and envy.
“Aurora doesn’t hold her liquor well, so I’ll drink this for her,” Julian said, drinking the wine in one gulp, his smile never fading from his lips. Though he was smiling, his demeanor kept others at bay, and his appearance also caused a bit of a stir.
Everyone knew that Julian had always been single, which was why he was chosen as the most desirable mate. Now suddenly, there was a woman by his side, clearly close to him.
Many people took out their phones to snap pictures of them, completely overshadowing Susan and Hayden.
Aurora hadn’t expected that being with him would cause such a sensation, especially since she hadn’t returned to the country in three years and had only kept up with Hayden and Susan’s news.
She did not realize that Julian was regarded as the heartthrob of many single women, a top-tier catch that many women dreamed of marrying.
But she could see the surprise on Hayden’s face and Susan’s dissatisfaction, and that alone made her quite happy. Indeed, being with him was the best choice. Aurora’s lips also curved into a smile. “So you are Julian’s nephew. It seems we might become family in the future. What should you call me in terms of seniority?”
Her coquettish tone clearly pleased Julian, his hand gently caressing her nose tip, indulgently saying, “Silly, he should call you ‘Aunt Aurora’ of course.”
The man’s indulgence was evident in his eyes, and everyone around could feel the sweet atmosphere they created, appearing more like a loving couple than Hayden and Susan.
“Aurora, perhaps you don’t yet understand the situation in our family. My grandfather had long arranged a fiancee for Julian. Didn’t he tell you this?”
Hayden preferred to believe that Aurora was with Julian merely to spite him. At least then their relationship would be nothing serious, just an act, which was somewhat bearable for him.
He said this deliberately wanting to see Aurora’s reaction, but the Aurora of now was no longer the person who wore her heart on her sleeve.
Although the word “fiancee” stung a bit, she preferred to trust in Julian’s feelings for her, which he genuinely harbored, and she knew this deep down without needing to be told.
Thus, she wouldn’t lose heart over something Hayden said now. Instead, she drew even closer to Julian.
“Just a fiancee, not a wife. Nothing is final until marriage, right? Julian, do you prefer your fiancee or me?”
Aurora nestled into Julian’s embrace, her fingers caressing his cheek, her lips curling into a seductive smile.
Aurora had no idea how irresistibly tempting her expression was. Which man wouldn’t want such beauty in his arms? She was truly bewitching!
Seeing the coquettish woman in Julian’s arms, Hayden could scarcely recognize the Aurora of the past, who was shy like a little rabbit.
She used to dislike public displays of affection, even holding hands made her shy, but now it seemed she only had eyes for Julian.
Julian took the opportunity to hold her hand and kissed it. “Don’t you understand my heart yet? Who else would I love in this lifetime but you?”
The man’s declaration thrilled the circle of women around them, who could hardly stand not being his girlfriend, filled with both jealousy and envy towards Aurora.
Aurora looked towards Hayden and Susan calmly before saying, “Mr. Alvarez, it seems I am set to be your Aunt Aurora.”
Hayden wanted to say more but held back due to the people around them. Susan also had to force a smile.
“Aurora, to find someone who treats you so well, I truly am happy for you as a friend.”
“I will cherish and love her all my life, never letting anyone hurt her again,” Julian said, holding her hand tightly, though his eyes revealed a hint of dark intent.
“If anyone has ever hurt her, I won’t let them off.” He was clearly referring to what Susan had done before.
Susan felt a chill down her spine under his icy gaze.